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Overview

From New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi comes a novel set in Paris during a time of extraordinary changeone that is full of mystery, decadence, and dangerous desires...

It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.

Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of historybut only if they can stay alive.

About the Author

ROSHANI CHOKSHI is the New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen, A Crown of Wishes, Aru Shah and the End of Time, and The Gilded Wolves.

Editorial Reviews

…[a] glittering series opener…Reading Chokshi's prose is like sinking deeply into the overstuffed arms of a plush, purple velvet sofa. Her lavish descriptions of extravagant dinner parties, furtive meetings and daring escapes wrap you in sumptuous sensory detail…This ingenious take on colonialism and cultural appropriation is wildly inventive and widely representative.

The New York Times Book Review - Jennifer Hubert Swan

"A gorgeously layered story, with characters that make you laugh and ache and cheer." – Renée Ahdieh, New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and The Dawn

"A masterpiece of imagination. You will want this book to steal your heart so that you will never have to leave this story." Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

"This is a book to swan dive into, swim around in, luxuriate in. Trust me, you won’t want to come out” – Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange The Dreamer

"The Gilded Wolves is part political misadventure, part puzzle and thoroughly charming, with a band of rapscallions and a string of surprises!" – Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of The Cruel Prince

"The Gilded Wolves is the smart, dark adventure YA readers have been waiting for.” – Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Sky In The Deep

"The Gilded Wolves has it all: magical Belle Époque Paris, dark and glittering prose, a cast of characters that will steal your heart inside their other heists. This is a book I wish I'd written." – Ryan Graudin, award-winning author of Wolf By Wolf

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Rating: 4.5 stars
Please consider getting a copy of this amazing book if you enjoy:
- clever puzzles
- art history
- Six of Crows level banter and friendship
- All things French
- Fancy parties that may end in death
- Moving floors and treasure hunting a la National Treasure
- Giant rolling balls of fire (see Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for reference)
- Romance that definitely wants to make you pass out
- Exploding walking sticks
- Lovable boys
- Lovable tarantulas
- An ending that makes you want to sue the author for not having the sequel immediately
Even if none of those speak to you, I can guarantee that there's something for everybody in this gorgeous historical fantasy that is sure to be one of my favorites of the year!

books2readilse

2 days ago

“History is a myth shaped by the tongues of conquerors”
My first Roshani Chokshi read was definitely a thrilling ride. The world she shaped is a very unique and spellbinding. I truly appreciated all the details, however the details were also confusing at times.
The story takes place in 1889 Exposition Universelle in France. A place where new technologies are emerging. A place where beyond the glamour, ugly and forgotten things took place as well. History
does not always unveil the macabre things that happened among the glam.
The story is told in different POV’s through the eyes of a few characters, these characters all have a dark past that they are either trying to run from or change. We see the secrets that make up the tale. The main character Severin is a smooth talking, secretive and manipulative person. He has an agenda that rules most of his actions, to reclaim his fallen and stripped titles as one of the main house leaders. He enlists a team of friends who are going to help him reclaim his house and his titles through what they call acquisitions, a fancy word for stealing antiques that hold secrets. These friends are from different parts of the world and they each hold a unique secret ability that Severin wants to use to his advantage. I do believe he cares for his friends, but it is no secret he hope they will ultimately help him in his grand scheme. When one of the other house members enlist the team to help him secure a valuable piece from another house leader Severin is trapped in helping him, but his true wants may be at arms reach with this acquisition. The success of the plan will hold their fate.
This novel was so detailed and different that it did often leave me feeling confused for the first half of the novel. I see why a story like this needed to be set up and crafted, but with all the detail I missed a lot of character and plot development to descriptions and explanations. I later learned that this is going to be a trilogy and I can appreciate the set up more.
I am curious to see where all the character development goes into the next novel, especially because the ending leaves you wanting more. I give this novel 3.5 stars as it was a challenging read and it only hooked me towards the end.

Anonymous

21 days ago

*This review is based on an e-ARC edition provided by the publisher via NetGalley. These are my honest opinions.*
In my opinion, the setting and world-building of The Gilded Wolves are the novel’s greatest strengths. It feels like we are in France – but not. A crew of six sets out on a quest to retrieve an ancient artifact central to the preservation of the civilized world. It’s 1889, and Paris is on the verge of the World Fair. It’s a time of glittering parties, but also a time filled with darkness. And this Paris has magic!
It is an interesting idea to center the story around “Babel Fragments,” objects that are imbued with God’s power to create things. And Chokshi adds many creative details that contribute to her fictional France. In this world, people have the ability to “Forge” – the power that allows humans to create artistic magical gardens or to give inanimate objects, such as stone animals, lifelike qualities. Every forged object or creature is also built with a fail-safe called a somno that will put the creation to sleep. There are secret workshops hidden behind mirror-like doors that turn transparent, called Tezcat doors. There is actually a powder called “mirror powder” that allows a person to look exactly like another person for a few minutes. This Paris also has mnemo bugs, which are Forged beetles that can record images and sound and project them like holograms. Another interesting – but creepy – addition is the Phobus Helmet, which plays the wearer’s nightmares on a loop.
The characters are OK. I didn’t feel drawn to them very strongly.
Severin is the leader of the quest and also the lost heir to House Vanth. Severin is part Algerian and deeply wants to protect his crew members, who are like family to him. But I couldn’t get over how much of a jerk he is to Laila near the end of the book.
I found Zofia to be one of the more interesting characters. She functions as the crew’s “engineer.” She seems to be a touch Autistic, and she is superb with numbers. Zofia also has the ability to forge metals and enjoys blowing things up. (She can light a match with her teeth!)
Tristan is like a brother to Severin. He has a Forging affinity for liquid matter, particularly the liquid in plants; as a result, he can create extravagant gardens. In my opinion, he is a bit too fond of Goliath, his pet tarantula, which often generates jokes. Unfortunately, I think the emphasis on Goliath is a bit distracting from the mature atmosphere that the author seems to be going for.
Enrique is the crew’s “historian.” He excels at puzzles and is very knowledgeable about ancient civilizations. He is part Filipino, and he often brings a nice touch of humor to the group’s conversations. He wields a cool walking stick that has a light bomb attached to the end.
Hypnos is the patriarch of one of the other Houses – House Nyx. He is wealthy and spoiled, and he is the person who recruits the team members for the mission (by tricking Severin into it). He is crafty and sly, but it seems that he just wants a family to be a part of.
Laila is a wonderful dancer of Indian descent. Her stage name is L’Enigme! She is passionate about baking desserts, and she also has the power to read an object’s history. She can see what the objects once witnessed.
Like other reviewers have mentioned, I agree there is too much stuff packed into the book. There is quite a lot going on, including Laila's side quest, POV switching, and several love triangles.

smweston

24 days ago

3.5 Stars. I finished this a few weeks ago, but this was a book that I needed to take my time to collect my thoughts.
Let me start with what I absolutely loved about this book; the characters. The characters are so lovable and diverse - and we get a peek into each of their thoughts. I can't say enough good things about Severin, Tristan, Lalia, Enrique, Sofia, and Hypnos. I fell in love with each and every one of them. (And I loved the tension between Severin and Laila even if I was screaming at them to just get with each other by the end!)
However, the plot just has too much going on. There were several times that I forgot it was set in the 1800s until a small detail, like Sofia's hoop skirt, would throw me off. The narration also gets confusing as it seems to not really be distinctly first person or third person. Also, this doesn't really feel like a heist book to me, even though it's being marketed as such. That's not a positive or negative in my opinion, as I still love it, but I just felt like the plot's concentration wasn't so much on pulling off this elaborate heist as introducing the characters.
Overall, I liked this and am excited for the rest of the trilogy.
Thanks to BookishFirst and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

EmilieSG

24 days ago

I would probably give this book 3.5 stars. It was a good historical YA Fantasy and hard to put down.
A team of misfits in an alternate Belle Epoque Paris work to stop a faction of madmen from gaining access to a piece of the ancient Tower of Babel. This group of friends uses their unique talents to plan a heist to rival "Ocean's Eleven" in order to keep the ancient artifact away from those who would misuse its power. The world-building is very good, the characters are likable, and the plot is very original.
That being said, I did have a few problems with the book. One, I really would have liked more elaboration on the backstory of the characters. Many important things happen to them before the actual book begins, and while these events are related in flashbacks, I think more attention could have been paid to these things. It really would have added to the story. Two, the "mythology" of the story was explained, but this is another area in which more detail could have enhanced the book. Three, the story is narrated by several different characters, and while this is well-done, at times it got confusing and I did have to go back an see which point-of-view we were looking through at the time. Perhaps the author could have varied the voices a bit more to make it easier to identify. Lastly, the climax of the book seemed rushed, and then the resolution/ending seemed very drawn out. The last several chapters just really served to set up the second book in the series. I would have liked a more definite conclusion instead of a lead-in to Book Two.
All that being said, the author had an original story and deftly created a world that drew me in as a reader. The sights, smells, tastes, and feelings were expertly described. The various characters each had idiosyncrasies, backstories, and personality traits that were relatable.
I did enjoy this book, but it almost seemed like the author wanted to do so much that many things were glossed over when they deserved more time. The fantastical story, the mythology and world-building, the decadence of the time, the puzzles/science/ math, the themes of colonialism, marginalization, isolation, being "the other," all deserved more attention than they received just because there was not room in the book. If it could have been tightened up and perhaps had less going on I would have given it a higher rating. I would still recommend the book to anyone who enjoys caper/heist stories, YA, Fantasy, and History.

Magdalyn_Ann

24 days ago

A heist, a band of misfits, a stolen inheritance and Bond-levels of gadgets. What's not to love about The Gilded Wolves? Well...
The whole concept was what made me desperately want this book. Plus, Roshani Chokshi’s previous books were a smash hit–so that means The Gilded Wolves had to be great too, right? Not so much. When I was reading, I just felt lost a lot of the time. I didn’t quite understand the “magic” system presented in the book, and it felt a little flimsy at best.
The characters were a shining aspect to the book; I loved the diverse and interesting crew, and I was interested enough in them alone to keep reading. I just kept finding myself constantly shunted out of the story due to the lackluster worldbuilding and the ever-present deus ex machina that came up at every turn.
There were some interesting points that felt skated over, and few things were ever really delved deeply into. The writing itself felt forced and stiff, and the occasional French words tossed into a conversation that was otherwise written in English just made it seem like the characters weren’t speaking in French at all…in a story about (mostly) French natives.
I was never invested in the heist, and there never truly felt like there had been any sort of tension. I dreaded picking up the book to finish it, but I was determined and far enough in that I couldn’t just DNF it. It felt like a slog just to get through it, despite the intriguing concept and the hope that maybe it’ll explain something at some point instead of just this vague teasing of information hidden somewhere in the story.
All in all, it wasn’t a terrible book. I’ve read and reviewed some pretty bad ones in my time, and The Gilded Wolves wasn’t one of those. It had plenty of room to expand and be better, but there was some great prose and the characters were the shining stars of the whole ordeal. But it’s not something I’d be willing to read again.

HowUsefulItIs

25 days ago

This book is definitely an excellent read. I enjoy the humor between the characters. I like that bit of forbidden love, or just the characters forbidden themselves from it happening again even though both enjoyed each other’s company. I like their stolen looks and thoughts of longing for each other. Zofia and Enrique’s worries are relatable and I like reading their views most. The puzzles and riddles are interesting as well as their knowledge of facts.
This book is told in the third person point of view following Severin, the last heir to House Vanth, a line of House that was declared dead 10 years ago. His hobby is acquisition, stealing auction antiques that originally belonged to House Vanth. He wants his House alive again. Another view is Laila. She is working with Severin on his acquisitions because she’s in search of an ancient book. She has a special gift, through her touch, she could know an object’s secret history. She’s also a cabaret star L’Enigme and a baker of divine cakes. The third view is Enrique, a historian. He’s out helping Severin to steal this compass that supposed to have a secret map hidden in it but experience an unexpected delay. The fourth view is Zofia, a forger of metals and one who loves math. The fifth view is Hypnos, a young heir to House Nyx. He wants the Horus Eye and contracts Severin and his team to obtain it for him in exchange to having Severin’s inheritance restored. The story is divided into seven parts.
Gilded Wolves is very well written and complicated at the same time. There are different foreign languages in this book with characters from different backgrounds. There are different types of magic happening in this story. The historical discussion and world building of Forging is not easy to understand for me. I thought forgeries are fake replica stuffs but how can interior designs, clothing and everything describe in this book are made through forgeries, including forgeries of the mind and metal. It makes this new magic interesting and complicated to read all the same. I do like the 7 deadly sins that taught Severin to become who he is today. There’s that bit of necromancy if you are into it. There’s a lot going on in this book and I do recommend everyone to read it.
Pro: humor, longing for each other, diversity, magic, intelligent characters, 7 deadly sins,
Con: complications of Forging world building
I rate it 4.5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Wednesday Books for inviting me to host a blog tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details

LibaryInTheCountry

3 months ago

The Gilded Wolves is a wonderful, powerful and imaginative story, teeming with representation for marginalized groups and with a superb cast of unforgettable characters.
With lush descriptions and thought provoking narratives, I was swept into the world of Belle Époque Paris. Roshani does a wonderful job of painting a world teaming with life, while shining a strong light onto those who pay for other's privileges.
This book is PERFECT for fans of Six of Crows. If you are in dire need of #squadgoals and heists, this is the book for you. I absolutely adore how these characters work together, how each has their own specialty and their backstories - particularly what brought them into Séverin's life.
Séverin is the heir to a fallen House. Disgraced and forgotten, Séverin is a highly complex character whose main goal is the gain back everything he's been denied. You will find yourself regularly charmed by and frustrated with him. He is my next favorite character of 2019 and I was constantly LIVING for his POV chapters in this book.
Enrique hit close to home for me, as my grandfather emigrated to the United States from the Philippines in the 1920s. I adore his character immensely, his dry humor and constant exasperation with his compatriots, and support him 110%.
Laila is her own mystery and a tantalizing one at that. Battling with her identity and feelings, she is probably the strongest personality of this book and the glue that holds everyone together. Serious #momfriend over here. Just don't tell her I said that.
Zofia is too damn smart for her own good. No really, her character represents several groups rarely featured in fantasy literature. As the mother of an autistic child, I loved Zofia's narrative and analytical mind. Roshani did a great job of portraying Zofia and I cannot wait to see her discover more of herself in the sequel.
Tristan is so lovely and sweet, I loved everything he brought to the page and how everyone seeks to protect him while all he wants is to feel useful. His relationship with Séverin is so important for the story and a driving force for much of the future plot.
While I certainly loved the plot of this and the world Roshani has created - I was absolutely ravenous for one of the romance subplots. It was so angsty, with history and wanting and I swear I was absolutely riveted every time these characters interacted with each other. I cannot wait to see where their relationship goes in the sequel - which has a fantastic set up in that regard as well.
Additionally, there are other romantic subplots hinted at in this including possible gay and bisexual feelings and I am just HERE FOR IT. These characters are still discovering their sexual identity and I am readily holding their hand through it all. I SUPPORT YOU.
My only complaint is that some of the historical and scientific descriptions can be a little lengthy and hard to follow. However, I loved the almost "treasure hunt" like vibe to this and easily looked past these instances.
Overall, this book opens a rich and vibrant world with a dark underbelly, unexpected twists and suffering, and is truly a statement piece for those under the heel of colonialism, racism and prejudice. The book ends with a captivating set up for the second book that will have you screaming from the rafters and dying for more!
Review copy provided by the St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Elena_L

3 months ago

"The Gilded wolves" is a fantasy novel set in 1889, Paris and centers around Severin - in order to reclaim his inheritance, he and his crew go on a quest to find some important magical artifact.
Chokshi creates a complex and fantastic world with magical elements and well-developed settings. The characters were diverse and completely distinctive - I connected with each one of them and specially loved Zofia for her wisdom and stilness when facing adversities.
Although in the beginning the storyline could sound a bit overwhelming due to the amount of information, it was wonderfully crafted with beautiful writing. Furthermore, the chapters told in different POVs were engaging and allowed me to have a deep look into each character. The final pages made my jaw drop and I am so excited for more.
"The Gilded wolves" is a mix of "Da Vinci Code" and "The invisible library" series and it was a good step to start reading Roshani Chokshi. I recommend!

Mel-Loves-Books

3 months ago

“Kisses were not supposed to be like this. Kisses were to be witnessed by stars, not held in the presence of stale death. But as the bones rose around them, Laila saw fractals of white. They looked like pale constellations and she thought that, perhaps, for a kiss like this, even hell would put forth stars.”
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi is overall a beautifully written interesting story. The beginning for me was very confusing and it did take a bit of push through on my part to keep reading to understand what was happening and who the characters were. In the end though I am very glad I stuck with it. It has amazing characters, and the story is fascinating. The ending is very much a set up for a second book, and that kind of irks me, but it did work because I now dying for the second book which I know I will buy as soon as it is available. I give the book 4 stars.
“I think the greatest power is belief, for what is a god without it?”

TheLiteraryPhoenix

4 months ago

The Gilded Wolves is a steampunk novel, set in an alternate Paris. There’s magic and the Great Houses guarding a secret. There are girls made from clay, consciousness, and bits of the dead. There’s dancers and secret doors and giant spiders and secrets. I really couldn’t ask for more from a novel. The adventure here is thick and fascinating and it was an easy read. Simply put, I loved it.
There are multiple POVs in this novel. My personal favorite was Zofia. She’s the closest thing to a budding mad scientist I’ve seen in a YA novel, and she immediately makes my list of all-time favorites. But if inventing and instability isn’t really your thing, there’s also the vengeful heir, the character a little too obsessed with creepy crawlies, the society defect, the actress, and the researcher. I thought some character stood out more than others, but they are all varied and interesting.
If you’re looking for relationships, widely cast books like this always bring a rush of different love stories. There’s a forbidden/rejected love story filled with tension. There’s well-meaning flirtation that goes awry. There’s a M/M relationship that I will just let you lovelies guess at until you read the book yourself.
The setting of Paris embraces the best of the city, but not the sites you would expect to see. I personally was thrilled to see the catacombs embraced as a setting, as well as the Expo. Chokshi flawlessly weaves her forging magic in with the turn of the century city, bustling with possibility. You get an excellent sense of the richness of this world. I found it really easy to slip into the story because of how vibrant the world was with mythology and possibility.
And I haven’t even begun to talk about the adventure. This is one of those plots that is just go-go-go. I can’t help but to compare it to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The setting and characters are very different, but the feel has the same thrill and romance and dance between danger and that adrenaline rush of success.
I really have nothing but high praise for this book – it was a highly enjoyable read, and it set up the ending perfectly that I am itching to know what is going to happen next. The Gilded Wolves has the same spirit as Six of Crows and I think that it will be well-received by Bardugo’s fans.

alyssama121

4 months ago

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The Gilded Wolves started off a little slow for me, but there was so much information and world building to get into! You’re thrown into it and have to figure out what’s going on and how everything works. Once everything was put in place and I understood what was going on, it was an exciting read full of action and intrigue.
I love that Chokshi doesn’t leave us hanging with the characters, either. Her plot is super intriguing, but her characters are just as good! I loved learning about each of their backstories and was fully invested in each of their story lines in a rather quick amount of time. The novel is told from each of their viewpoints, which I really appreciated. It was nice to see others’ perceptions of each other and then understand what’s really going on with each character. Along with the plot, they also have surprising reveals and intrigues just going on internally, which is a really nice parallel and nicely brings the story together. And it’s really easy to switch from each voice because the characters are quite diverse and each have very unique qualities.
The setting really can’t be beat; you’re dealing with an alternate fantasy world set in the late 1800’s in Paris. It’s just so cool, and then Chokshi throws a heist on top of it. The stakes are incredibly high and it just makes for a compelling read. I kept turning page after page and was fascinated by how magic works in this world–it’s very well thought out.
While the main conflict mostly resolves itself, I was wanting more at the end. I get that that’s how series work, but I SO MUCH WANT TO READ BOOK 2! I’m very excited to read the next book now that I feel like I have a handle on how the world works, so I can dive right in and just enjoy the story. Definitely recommend for alternate history fantasy lovers!

JReppy

4 months ago

4.5 stars. The story was so intriguing that I read the book in a night. I want the book to be made into a movie so the vivid characters and scenery can come alive. I like the diversity of the main characters in appearance, background, talents, and weaknesses and the fact that they all have secrets. The mixture of science, math, history, religion, nature, and "magic" (for lack of a better word) is great. I like that the book utilizes historical events and religious beliefs and events to advance the plot and explain the current circumstances. In particular, the story utilizes the biblical story of the Tower of Babel. It was also nice that scientific inventions and principles and mathematical principles were key to solving some of the puzzles/mysteries that confronted the main characters. Although the six main characters are not equals in terms of status and power, I appreciated that all of them made major contributions and that the success of the group in their endeavors could not have happened without all of them. I liked the use of the seven deadly sins as the nicknames/identities of Severin's foster fathers and the fact that he learned lessons from each of them, even the worst/cruelest ones. While all six main characters are appealing in their own way, Zofia is one of my favorites because the reader gets to witness more emotional growth/self-confidence.
I am glad I had the opportunity to read a copy of the e-book via NetGalley and I look forward to the next book in the series.

BookPrincessReviews

4 months ago

This book showcases the power of Roshani Chokshi’s magical, charming, and enchanting writing – I had no clue what was going on most of the time, but I was still enthralled. She made a captivating cast of misfits that were endearing and oh so very charming, and when I was lost on what was going on in the world, I would just bask in their greatness.
Seriously, there is no doubt that Chokshi is a queen of YA. Her writing is always stunning. She has such a way with words, and it’s always lush and captivating. It’s like you’re reading a gold bar or something. This book is no different. Her lyrical, beautiful prose shines through, and it never gets to be too much.
My biggest issue was the world building. I just didn’t fully get it. I would think I got it, but then something would pop up and I’m like, no, nope, I don’t got it. I am still confused on the whole idea of Forging – which is the basic magic system in the book. I was trying to talk about this with Sha, and I would just throw out words like Horus Eye and Babel Fragment and Sha was like, what are those, and I’m over here like…IDK IDK IDK. And I should have knownnnnnnnnnn. I’m not entirely sure if there was just not enough time dedicated to the world explanation in the beginning or it was just too confusing of a world for me, but I just felt things would pop up, have a moment explanation, and then gone again with the wind. And I was just stuck in a constant state of confusion.
However, the world building that I did understand was interesting and fascinating. I love the setting in France, and the historical fiction pieces infused with the mythology of the world was intriguing. Chokshi created such a cool world, and I did feel like I was immersed in a whole new world.
The characters were the shining stars for this book for me. The core characters Severin, Zofia, Enrique, Laia, and Hypnos were so intricate, dynamic, and amazing. They had so many facets to them, and I just wanted to stay with them for such a long time. They reminded me of the Six of Crows gang, and if you love them, you’ll definitely see shades of them in these characters. I can’t even quite pick a favorite character, because they were all so intriguing and complex. When they were apart or together, it didn’t matter because they were going to be amazing either way.
The pacing was pretty good as well. For it being a pretty large book, it moved pretty decently. There were some parts that it went so high speed, and I loved that.
Also, I had some bigger issues with the ending. I felt like there was a random plot twist that seemed confusing? And happened with a character that I never fully understood? It just…I felt so weird. And then the other little things at the end felt the same to me, too.
3 crowns and a Belle rating! This would have been rated so much higher if I knew what was going on and had understood it a bit better – because trust me, I did love love love some moments.

SecondRunReviews

4 months ago

What an amazing story! Great world building. Compelling characters. One heck of a cliffhanger. Can't wait to read book 2!!

Deniareads

4 months ago

4.5/5 Stars
Exquisite. This book is exquisite. That's the word that comes to mind as soon as I finished this book. I loved it. Roshani Chokshi did so good and this coming back novel, I'm in love.
The Gilded Wolves is more of a Six of Crows meets Grim Lovelies and I was very impressed by it. If you've seen my profile picture in any of my book social media you would see that the book that I hold in my hand is Six of Crows, which is to say that I love that series. When I started reading this book and saw that it was written in the different point of views of the different characters in the book, I saw the immediate pattern of Six of Crows. However, where Six of Crow was dark and sinister, The Gilded Wolves was dark but in a more subdued way.
The Gilded Wolves is set in the late 1800s in Paris, France. Here we follow the stories from the point of view of five different characters, well, four mainly, but we get a sneak peek of a different character at the end. Severin, Laila, Enrique, Zofia, and Hypnos. These characters are brought together because they were lost looking for something that each of them couldn't find on their own. That's why Severin forms a team of sorts and with each of the other's abilities, they can come together to reach their unified goal.
The writing quality was a ten out of ten. I have to give that to Roshani, her writing was beautiful. Throughout her whole story, you get pulled out into the world that she creates and you don't get lost. Everything makes senses. Despite the different points of view, you never get lost, you understand everything that she's playing out in the story.
The Character development was alright. I wished she would've delved deeper into the emotions of some of the characters. For example, the character Tristan. I felt like there was so much missing from him that we didn't know. Like the thing with the birds (If you read the book, then you'll know what I'm talking about). I don't know, I just feel like her characters, all of them, were a little bit standoffish, not just in the book, but even to us readers, if that makes any sense.
The character that I related to the most had to be Laila. She's adorable and strong in ways that the others are not. Her qualities and personality really sparked my interest and I like how much she moms everything. I'm always the mom of my group of friends, so I really liked her.
The intellectual depth of this book blew me off. Like Roshani did such great research, and I'm not sure if she went to Paris to do actual research for this book, but this story really grabs France essence and I love it. While reading the book I felt like I was the one with Severin and the girls running down the streets of Paris instead of reading a book. I feel like this book is very original in its essence, but when it comes to the way the story was portrayed I felt like it really compared to Six of Crows, and I haven't read Grim Lovelies yet to really compare it to that, but I have a feeling that they are about similar patterns.
Anyways, I would recommend this book to anyone 12 years old and older. If you liked the Sic of Crow series. Grim lovelies, for all of you squad-loving people. This is a squad you'll want to be a part of.

OwlishReader

4 months ago

This is an intricate young adult fantasy with some historical fiction elements. This book also, weirdly, has a sort of Da Vinci Code feel to it. Or maybe it's just me, but I'm not mad at it. I enjoyed the complexity and diversity of the main characters. I was invested in the plot from start to finish. For me, this was kind of like magic meets historical mystery meets the Great Gatsby in Paris. And it was great.
My only issue was how complex the magic system was. At first I felt like I had been thrown in with little explanation about what was going on. There were too many elements thrown at me too quickly, which made it difficult for me to get into the story at first. Once I had my bearings I was able to really enjoy the story. This was definitely one of my most anticipated releases of 2019, and it did not disappoint!

The-Clever-Reader

5 months ago

The prologue to this book alone will draw you in! The story is a lot of fun and the array of characters makes it even more enjoyable. I don't remember the last book I read that was set in this historical french style and it was really refreshing.
I loved that each POV comes from a different background and contributes a different perspective of the events going on to create a clear description of the world around them! I think Roshani did a wonderful job of building complex characters whose combined abilities make for the perfect team!
The themes in this YA fantasy also contribute to the story in ways that other YA Fantasy hasn't done very much of recently and I think that it will really resonate with readers. I can't wait to read book two!

DeediReads

5 months ago

“Make yourself a myth and live within it, so that you belong to no one but yourself.”
The Gilded Wolves is an exciting, pull-off-an-impossible-heist-to-save-the-world story with multiple POVs. So, basically, if you liked Six of Crows, this is for you.
The premise is the Order of Babel, an organization that has existed throughout history and protected the world’s Babel fragments, which give society the power to Forge (basically, create via magic). It’s said that the Babel fragments originated with the biblical Tower of Babel, give a piece of God’s creation powers to those who possess an affinity for it, and pretty much allow society as they know it to exist. Threaten the fragments, and you threaten society.
In the book’s present-day, there are two families belonging to the Order who protect the West’s Babel fragment — but there used to be four. The “fallen house” tried to get too close to God, too powerful, and so they were pretty much taken down by the rest of the families as punishment. And then there’s Severin’s house, which was taken from him and declared heirless when he was a kid.
Now, along with four others, Severin needs to get his house/status back and pretty much save the world from an unknown enemy who’s apparently after the West’s Babel fragment.
I loved that all the characters were so diverse, including in nationality, religion, and orientation. They all have rich backstories and important plots. The writing truly made you care about them, which is also what’s so great about Six of Crows.
I did feel like there were some things in this book that were explained a little too conveniently, discoveries that were played off as natural conclusions but felt kind of like a long shot, and a bit of a rushed climax. It also came with alllllll the cheesy YA lines, my favorite being that Severin’s eyes were “the color of sleep” with the ability to recall “nightmares or dreams.” (I still love it though.) So not the best writing I’ve ever read, but still really exciting and engaging, and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Kaleena

5 months ago

"Everywhere he looked, he was surrounded by gilded wolves. And for whatever reason, it made him feel perfectly at home. Wolves were everywhere. In politics, on thrones, in beds. They cut their teeth on history and grew fat on war. Not that Séverin was complaining. It was just that, like other wolves, he wanted his share."
I am a sucker for historical fantasy, and The Gilded Wolves delivers an action-packed story with a diverse cast of characters that I treasured with every ounce of my being. A secret society that pulls the strings of society (Illuminati?!)? Hunting for artifacts? Magic and technological invention when the world was on the cusp of Industrialism? Heck. Yes. If you are in the mood for an adventure with a precious found family, this book might be for you!
It's Paris, 1889. The world is at the brink of the Industrial Revolution, but there is another kind of technology that goes back way further. "The art of Forging is as old as civilization itself," and is the magic system of the book. Those born with the ability manifest it by their 13th birthday and can either influence the mind or matter.
"To those blessed with a Forging affinity, it is an inheritance of divinity [...T]o Forge is not only to enhance a creation, but to reshape it."
The former is heavily regulated by the Order of Babel, but "all Forging is bound by three conditions: the strength of the artisan's will, the clarity of the artistic goal, and the boundary of their chosen mediums' elemental properties." The Order's taking of culturally significant artifacts and assimilating folk beliefs are a powerful and nuanced allusion to colonialism.
Where this story truly shines is with its characters. The Gilded Wolves is told in the perspectives of four main characters: Séverin, Laila, Enrique, and Zofia. The fifth part of their crew is Tristan, and they work together to help Séverin get what is needed to claim his true inheritance. While they each are looking for something themselves, they never expected to form a family of their own and each of them express anxiety at what the future holds when their goals are achieved.
"It'll be 'like dreaming' you said. As 'easy as sleep!'"
"Nightmares are part of sleeping."
"Is that a joke?"
Honestly the banter between the characters is absolute perfection and everything that I want in my friend groups. Can I enlist myself into their friend group? I will help feed Goliath. *shudders*
Power and race play an important role to the diverse characters of this book and their positions within the world they live in.
Each of the main characters has something about them that outwardly alienates themselves from their cultural identity, whether it be their religion or their mixed heritage. These assumptions and misunderstandings are all brought to the fore when fake identities are provided which directly challenge their identities: a Filipino is given an Chinese identity, a classically trained bharatnatyam dancer is told she will be a nautch dancer. This blatant insensitivity is addressed and called for what it is - offensive - but sadly brushed aside as they realize that playing into the prejudices of others will allow them to blend in and go unnoticed, thus continuing the system of oppression. I really appreciated this quiet and nuanced discussion on racism and power dynamics.
full review: https://readervoracious.com/2018/12/13/the-gilded-wolves/

patricia_s

5 months ago

This was an amazing an funny read, I loved everything involved in this book. I recommend it a lot.
This is the first book that I read from Roshani and her writing style is so cool, I adored it.
The characters and world was amazing, I really connected with the book and his characters.

bjneary

5 months ago

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the advance reader copy The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi in exchange for an honest review. From the first page, Roshani Chokshi held me captive with her drama and taut suspense as she worthily worldbuilds France in 1889 as well as the science, math, magic, and mythology in this sweeping tale of chasing one’s birthright, stealing treasures, and keeping close to those you love/work with. Not only is the plot full of intrigue, tension, and drama, the characters are strong and believable. I could not stop turning the pages. Severin, Tristan, Laila, Enrique, and Sofia work well together with their different abilities but they also have secrets too ---I am not a fan of Hypnos and think there is more we will learn about him. Toward the end, I was put off by Severin in his treatment (separately) of Tristan and Laila. I was not fond of the ending either and that said, the readers deserve MORE redemption, closure, hope, and happiness and less horror, heartbreak, and evil in Book 2, please.

Mjnorman

5 months ago

Roshani Chokshi does it again! Gilded Wolves is beautifully written, evoking strong imagery and expressive relationships. Like in Star-Touched Queen and Night and Death, the plot feels organic — the perfect balance of world building, action and character development. As always, Chokshi is a pleasure to read.
Set in the aristocratic circles of Paris, ancient magic flows freely, and one man is on the hunt to reclaim his family’s prestige. Cut off as a magical founding family, Séverin has remade himself into a businessman and thief. Spending his time reclaiming magical heirlooms, Séverin and his friends seem unstoppable...that is until the powerful Order of Babel task Séverin with a dangerous, yet lucrative mission. If all goes well Séverin May reclaim his inheritance, if not, certain death!

JollyRogerBooks

5 months ago

Right after ending the book: MY HEART! I NEED BOOK 2 NOW! HOW COULD ROSH DO THIS TO US! MY HEART!!!!
Okay , let's take some deep breaths and go about this calmly.
The GIlded Wolves is an absolute delight to read with all the beautiful descriptions and imagery that Chokshi is becoming known for. Combine Roshani Chokshi's descriptive writing with the granduer and mystery of Paris and you've got one beautiful story. Forewarning, i did listen to the audiobook so i was truly transported to Paris with all the accents and descriptions. Sidenote: if you listen to this audiobook your thoughts will have a french accent for the rest of the day.
In The Gilded Wolves we are introduced to a crew that is ready to treasure hunt and is no newbies at it either. They work together on Acquisition jobs when not working at Severin's hotel Le Den*
*clarification as i did listen to the audio, i have no idea how to spell anything but the 6 MC's names because that is on twitter.
We have Severin who runs the hotel and is the blood heir to House Vanth of France in the Order of Babel that stems from the Bible Story around the Tower of Babel. In France there are two other Houses, House Nyx and House Kore whom deny that Severin should be the next Patriarch of House Vanth and instead declared House Vanth dead. He is set on finding the perfect artifact to bribe the Order of Babel to redo the inheritance test and let him take back the title. He is joined by friends and allies he has found along the way.
Joining him is probably one of my favorite characters, Zofia who is A FEMALE ENGINEER who i believe is a bit autistic, or whatever it is where sarcasm and those type of jokes seem to go over her head. BUT A FEMALE ENGINEER!!!! HELL TO THE YEAH!! THis girl is my heart and how she sees the world with math and wnating to invent is beautiful.
If Zofia is my heart , then Tristan is my joy. A precoius snowflake who loves plants and animals more than anything except Severin his brother in everything but blood. THis man is absolutely precious and must be protected. Enrique is an absolute delightful, sarcastic historian and i will STAN this man for ever. He will occasionally be the voice of reason and puzzle things out with Zofia. Layla is the Mom Friend to the T who also won't hesitate to call you out on your Bull. She has your best intentions at heart. SHe also is a fabulous baker.
The Fabulous 5 are in the middle of an acquisition heist when the patriarch of House Nyx, Hypnos a very flamboyant man, "hires" them to acquire a specific artifact that will help locate a mythical artifact and promises to re-administer the inheritance test for Severin.
QUITE a few hijinks and dedutions happen throughout the story as you explore Historical Paris into a fascinating story that is building up a larger arc for a Trilogy. The characters have great personal ARCS but still have room to grow in the next few books as well.
Another amazing story by ROshani Chokshi and great opener for the Gilded wolves trilogy.

taramichelle

5 months ago

The Gilded Wolves was such a fun, enjoyable read! It was a great heist story that kept me intriguing throughout. I loved trying to figure out all of the clues, it was so fun to see how they worked out (and really impressed me with the amount of research Chokshi must have done). It took me a bit to get into the story but that was entirely due to my mood and not at all due to the book itself.
I also absolutely loved the diversity in this book! I really wish that I’d had more like this one growing up. The banter between the characters was so witty, I laughed out loud multiple times. I’m also so, so excited to see where the sequel goes, I loved how both a larger mythology and mystery were introduced in this book.
Overall, The Gilded Wolves was dark, beautifully written, and a joy to read.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.